What is your IP address?

What is an IP?

Every computer that accesses the Internet must have an IP address. The IP address specifies the destination to which the respective data should be sent. But what exactly is an IP address, how do you find out your own IP address and what do you need the IP address for?

To explain in more detail what an IP address is, it is important to examine the term IP. This acronym stands for "Internet Protocol" - which is a network-layer standard, which sets the rules for sending information between computers on the internet.

When you visit a website, you send your IP address to the website via your browser. This is because the website needs your IP address to send data packets to your computer to change the content of the page, when you, for example, open a new sub-page. Just as you need to dial a telephone number before you can make telephone call, you need an individual address to receive and send data on the internet.

Most IP addresses are structured according to a familiar pattern, the so-called standard IPv4. This is a series of four numbers between 0 and 255 separated by dots. In the newer version, the IPv6 standard, addresses are expressed as a series of eight blocks, each containing four characters, which can include numbers and letters.

IPv4 example:

IPv6 example:

It is easy to find out your IP address. All you have to do is to open the Windows command prompt and run the ipconfig command. The IP address is automatically assigned by your internet service provider. If you have a router, you will have an IP address for the router and internal IP address for the computer within the local network.

The IP address can be used to find out your service provider, and at the same time, your approximate location. In theory, the internet service provider can see in detail the data accessed by a particular IP address. However, this information is protected by data protection legislation and may only be viewed if approved by the authorities.

More details to your ip

Country: United States

According to our information, your IP address is located in the country: United States

Browser:

Your current browser is:

City: Ashburn

Postcode: 20149

Why you should use VPN?

The acronym VPN stands for so-called virtual private network. Here, the participants are inside a closed network, where they are assigned an internal IP address by the main server. While all the participants inside the closed network have their own IP address, in outside communications, they all have the IP address of the main server. Anyone accessing or uploading data via the VPN server does so anonymously through the main server and will, therefore, not be recognised, as the main server handles all communications by dozens, hundreds or thousands of other users.

There are many good reasons to use a VPN server. Many business people use a VPN server to keep their online activities secure and confidential. This is because a VPN server helps to ensure that third-parties cannot gain access to business activities - even if public networks provide no security on their own.

Do you want to prevent your personal data from being sold to companies and used for marketing purposes? Then simply use a VPN server to protect your privacy effectively.

Another reason for the use of VPN servers is the bypassing of geographical blocks. For example, a VPN server can help you access websites from certain countries, which you would normally be blocked from visiting. We are sure you have noticed that some videos or audio tracks cannot be accessed for privacy reasons. If you use a VPN server, however, you will probably be able to access the data.

With a VPN server, you can also make it much harder for criminal hackers to gain access to individual data, or even worse, to gain control your computer.

Domain Name System (DNS)

Anyone who wants to find out more about IP addresses will quickly come across the term DNS. What does DNS stand for and what is it used for? The acronym stands for domain name system. This is a technology that converts an Internet address or computer name into an IP address and vice versa. DNS is used when you visit a website and enter the name of the website in the browser. If you want to visit a website, your computer sends a request to a DNS server, which is usually looked after by your provider. This server then sends you the IP address, which allows your computer to access the website. DNS servers are connected to many other servers worldwide. If an address cannot be identified, the DNS server will access a large number of other servers and their information.

Static IP

Many people are familiar with the term static IP address. However, only very few people know what it is. If you have a device that is connected to the internet, then this device has at least one dynamic or static IP address. In contrast to a dynamic IP address, a static IP address does not change without the input of its owner. IP addresses are usually randomly assigned to each user on the World Wide Web. Any website or a server on the internet, however, need a static IP address to ensure that they can be reached on a long-term basis under a specific URL. This can be compared with the telephone number or the home address. Even devices within a local network, such as a printer, have a fixed IP for easy communication with each other.

Dynamic IP

Dynamic IP addresses are much more common than static IP addresses. They are subject to constant change and can be changed at any time. Once you connect your router to the World Wide Web, it will be assigned an IP address. This address is unique and belongs only to your router. When the router later reconnects to the internet, it will be assigned a new IP address. The IP address of a router typically changes every 24 hours. Where required, a dynamic IP address can also be assigned a dynamic IP address.